Wilde Lake Middle Earns Healthy Howard Innovation Award

Innovation Award Winner

In April 2007, Howard County launched the Healthy Howard Initiative, a six-phase initiative that encourages institutions including restaurants, schools, workplaces, and recreation programs to incorporate healthy activities and healthy products into the lives o f County residents. Healthy Howard is strengthened by participation and collaboration with the public and private sectors.

Recognizing that schools are an integral part of our children’s development as well as an invaluable asset to parents and the community, Healthy Schools was developed to recognize schools that have displayed extraordinary commitment in the areas of Nutrition, Physical Activity, Mental Health, Safety and Environmental Health. This year, Wilde Lake Middle was honored with the first-ever Healthy Schools Innovation Award for Safety. (Source: Howard County Health Department Website)

Our school was recognized for our implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) initiatives, including our "gotchas" program. Gotchas are coupons that students earn when they demonstrate the Wilde Lake Way of being respectful, responsible, ready and safe. The coupons can be redeemed at our monthly Gotcha Store or at our quarterly socials. Teachers can earn rewards, too. The carbon copies of the gotchas are entered into a monthly drawing for fabulous prizes, including donated gift certificates and a special parking spot at the school.

I want to thank Ms. Carmean, Ms. Deforge, Ms. Smithson and Ms. Mussaw and for leading our PBIS Team and for the incredible support by our PTSA.